The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead in the dingy basement gym, casting harsh shadows across the peeling beige walls and worn exercise equipment. The air was thick with the smell of old sweat and rubber mats.
Torque, a hulking mass of muscles wrapped in a stained tank top that barely contained his frame, paced back and forth across the cracked concrete floor. His mismatched shoes squeaked with each step as he shadowboxed, throwing wild haymakers at imaginary opponents. His face was hidden behind his signature psycho mask, but his manic energy was palpable.
Across from him, Light Yagami sat with perfect posture on a stack of yoga mats, his pristine white dress shirt and pressed khakis a stark contrast to the grungy environment. His auburn hair fell precisely across his forehead as he watched Torque with calculated interest, a notebook balanced on his knee.
"EXPLOSIONS MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER!" Torque shouted, punctuating his statement with a roundhouse kick that nearly toppled a nearby punching bag. "I'LL JUST BLOW UP THE DISCORD MOD! PROBLEM SOLVED!"
Light sighed, pressing his fingers to his temple. "That's not how boxing works, Torque. The referee would disqualify you immediately for bringing explosives into the ring." His tone carried the weary patience of someone explaining basic concepts to a child.
Their Reddit mod coach, a pale figure in a black fedora and fingerless gloves who insisted everyone call him "DarkLordOfLogic_420," looked up from his phone. His patchy beard twitched as he spoke. "Actually, according to the rulebook-"
"RULES ARE MADE TO BE EXPLODED!" Torque interrupted, flexing his biceps so hard his tank top threatened to disintegrate.
Light closed his eyes for a moment, composing himself. "Look, your opponent is going to be defensive. Discord moderators spend all their time behind screens - they'll try to maintain distance. You need strategy, not just explosions."
"But what if-" Torque began.
"No explosions," Light cut him off firmly.
"WHAT IF I EXPLODE THE REFEREE FIRST?"
The Reddit mod nodded sagely, stroking his beard. "Technically, if there's no referee to disqualify you..."
Light slammed his notebook shut. "That's still illegal! We need to focus on legitimate boxing techniques." The edge in his voice betrayed his growing frustration, though his face remained carefully neutral.
Torque stopped his shadowboxing, turning to face Light. "OKAY SMART GUY, HOW ABOUT THIS - I PRETEND THE BOXING GLOVES ARE TINY EXPLOSIONS ON MY FISTS?"
A moment of silence filled the gym, broken only by the rhythmic drip of a leaky pipe somewhere in the ceiling.
Light's expression shifted slightly, the ghost of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "You know what? That might actually work. Channel that explosive energy into your punches - legally."
"YEAHHHHH! LEGAL EXPLOSIONS!" Torque began furiously punching the air again, making explosion sounds with each jab.
The Reddit mod looked up from his phone again. "Actually, according to my extensive research on Wikipedia..."
But Light and Torque had already tuned him out, focused on transforming Torque's love of explosions into something that wouldn't get him arrested before the first round.
The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead in the dingy basement gym, casting harsh shadows across the peeling beige walls and worn exercise equipment. The air was thick with the smell of old sweat and rubber mats.
Torque, a hulking mass of muscles wrapped in a stained tank top that barely contained his frame, paced back and forth across the cracked concrete floor. His mismatched shoes squeaked with each step as he shadowboxed, throwing wild haymakers at imaginary opponents. His face was hidden behind his signature psycho mask, but his manic energy was palpable.
Across from him, Light Yagami sat with perfect posture on a stack of yoga mats, his pristine white dress shirt and pressed khakis a stark contrast to the grungy environment. His auburn hair fell precisely across his forehead as he watched Torque with calculated interest, a notebook balanced on his knee.
"EXPLOSIONS MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER!" Torque shouted, punctuating his statement with a roundhouse kick that nearly toppled a nearby punching bag. "I'LL JUST BLOW UP THE DISCORD MOD! PROBLEM SOLVED!"
Light sighed, pressing his fingers to his temple. "That's not how boxing works, Torque. The referee would disqualify you immediately for bringing explosives into the ring." His tone carried the weary patience of someone explaining basic concepts to a child.
Their Reddit mod coach, a pale figure in a black fedora and fingerless gloves who insisted everyone call him "DarkLordOfLogic_420," looked up from his phone. His patchy beard twitched as he spoke. "Actually, according to the rulebook-"
"RULES ARE MADE TO BE EXPLODED!" Torque interrupted, flexing his biceps so hard his tank top threatened to disintegrate.
Light closed his eyes for a moment, composing himself. "Look, your opponent is going to be defensive. Discord moderators spend all their time behind screens - they'll try to maintain distance. You need strategy, not just explosions."
"But what if-" Torque began.
"No explosions," Light cut him off firmly.
"WHAT IF I EXPLODE THE REFEREE FIRST?"
The Reddit mod nodded sagely, stroking his beard. "Technically, if there's no referee to disqualify you..."
Light slammed his notebook shut. "That's still illegal! We need to focus on legitimate boxing techniques." The edge in his voice betrayed his growing frustration, though his face remained carefully neutral.
Torque stopped his shadowboxing, turning to face Light. "OKAY SMART GUY, HOW ABOUT THIS - I PRETEND THE BOXING GLOVES ARE TINY EXPLOSIONS ON MY FISTS?"
A moment of silence filled the gym, broken only by the rhythmic drip of a leaky pipe somewhere in the ceiling.
Light's expression shifted slightly, the ghost of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "You know what? That might actually work. Channel that explosive energy into your punches - legally."
"YEAHHHHH! LEGAL EXPLOSIONS!" Torque began furiously punching the air again, making explosion sounds with each jab.
The Reddit mod looked up from his phone again. "Actually, according to my extensive research on Wikipedia..."
But Light and Torque had already tuned him out, focused on transforming Torque's love of explosions into something that wouldn't get him arrested before the first round.